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 Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 8:36 am
The Red Planet is about to be spectacular! This month and next, Earth is catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest approach between the two planets in recorded history. The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs on Mars and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be certain that Mars has not come this close to Earth in the Last 5,000 years, but it may be as long as 60,000 years before it happens again.
The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles of Earth and will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of -2.9 and will appear 25.11 arc seconds wide. At a modest 75-power magnification.
By August 27, Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. Mars will be easy to spot. At the beginning of August it will rise in the east at 10p.m. and reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m.
By the end of August when the two planets are closest, Mars will rise at nightfall and reach its highest point in the sky at 12:30a.m. That's pretty convenient to see something that no human being has seen in recorded history. So, mark your calendar at the beginning of August to see Mars grow progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month. Share this with your children and grandchildren. NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN
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Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 11:03 am
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Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 11:12 am
*marks date on the calender*
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Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2005 9:46 am
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Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2005 6:03 pm
wow! I have to stick around to see that.
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Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2005 3:30 pm
Hasnt this already happened? I dont know.
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Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2005 5:54 am
missing nin itachi Hasnt this already happened? I dont know. Apparently. I have recieved many an angry PM gonk But, I don't understand! Why would my aunt e-mail me this now?! crying
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Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 5:34 am
Damn, I missed my trip home, in that case. So do you think it would have made a big difference in the space race (ie being first to get to mars)?
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Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2005 5:35 pm
Mehina missing nin itachi Hasnt this already happened? I dont know. Apparently. I have recieved many an angry PM gonk But, I don't understand! Why would my aunt e-mail me this now?! crying ::raises an eyebrow::
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Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2005 12:25 pm
dirxetk Damn, I missed my trip home, in that case. So do you think it would have made a big difference in the space race (ie being first to get to mars)? Um, probbably not, as by the time the astronauts reached Mars, it would be in an increasing distance away from Earth and the trip back would be difficult. In other words, it would have been a one way trip.
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 6:13 am
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Reply
